thepolishgirl
Joined Nov 2021
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Reviews6
thepolishgirl's rating
I wasn't sure what to expect from this anime, going in. I think I was hoping for an inverted history of Japan, where women have taken over, and all is right with the world, with a bit of erotica and "I told you so" thrown into the mix.
That's not what I got, though. Sure, it's about a world where women do and decide everything; but nothing is without its consequences. It's not all fun and games. In fact, I might even venture a politically incorrect opinion that it's worse.
Men are still men, with all their urges, needs and shortcomings. Women are still women, with all of their fallacies. It's just an upside down version of the world as we know it, and everything that that would realistically entail in a medieval setting.
There is a trigger warning to this anime - sexual violence. I was expecting it to be graphic, in true anime style. Nothing of the sort. And yet, violence abounds, in ways I never expected to see it. It spares no-one, regardless of gender. It's not the presence of violence, though, that is key. Is how people deal with it, react to it. What they choose to do afterwards. This violence serves an important plot purpose. It is a rite of passage for the characters and isn't there just for fan-servicing purposes.
This anime is so much more than it lets on at first glance. It takes real-life qualities of people and applies them in inverted-power-dynamic circumstances. It has been a while since I came across something so mind-bendinglly captivating on Netflix. I literally could not peel myself away. The story doesn't impart any superpowers to anyone, it doesn't create unrealistic relationships, or unrealistic characters. It does however show how people deal with extraordinary circumstances in a believable way. I can see myself in the characters' decisions. This could have very well been the top secret, completely justified reason for Japan's utter isolation policy back in the Edo period.
That's not what I got, though. Sure, it's about a world where women do and decide everything; but nothing is without its consequences. It's not all fun and games. In fact, I might even venture a politically incorrect opinion that it's worse.
Men are still men, with all their urges, needs and shortcomings. Women are still women, with all of their fallacies. It's just an upside down version of the world as we know it, and everything that that would realistically entail in a medieval setting.
There is a trigger warning to this anime - sexual violence. I was expecting it to be graphic, in true anime style. Nothing of the sort. And yet, violence abounds, in ways I never expected to see it. It spares no-one, regardless of gender. It's not the presence of violence, though, that is key. Is how people deal with it, react to it. What they choose to do afterwards. This violence serves an important plot purpose. It is a rite of passage for the characters and isn't there just for fan-servicing purposes.
This anime is so much more than it lets on at first glance. It takes real-life qualities of people and applies them in inverted-power-dynamic circumstances. It has been a while since I came across something so mind-bendinglly captivating on Netflix. I literally could not peel myself away. The story doesn't impart any superpowers to anyone, it doesn't create unrealistic relationships, or unrealistic characters. It does however show how people deal with extraordinary circumstances in a believable way. I can see myself in the characters' decisions. This could have very well been the top secret, completely justified reason for Japan's utter isolation policy back in the Edo period.
J-Lo is a controversial choice for this part. Some love her, some hate her and nothing in between. J-Lo looks good even when she has bags under her eyes and is covered in dirt, grime and blood. This is just the way she is, and no amount of scene make up will change that. I know women like that. Real-life women, who simply look good no matter the situation.
I think the chief qualm of reviews with this piece is just that - how can a woman officially past her prime look this good in such situations? It's not believable. And I think this is why this movie gets lower ratings than it deserves.
There is, however, merit to the claim that the background story isn't developed as well as it could be; there are plot holes here and there; and those fur coats will get any eco-geek screaming. Anybody who has never experienced the wild outdoors in their most primitive, no-indoor-plumbing, no-electricity, and NO INTERNET state, will simply not understand what is necessary to survive them. Hunting and foraging for food when you are off the grid is a necessity, not brutality or abuse of nature. Not eating animal meat as a source of protein when it's -30 C outside is not an "option". You can't go to the store to get tofu-rkey! This movie brings certain unquestionable truths to the surface, and it's uncomfortable.
The daughter's instincts are also not entirely convincingly explained - ok, we can kind of guess who taught her the two-fingered tapping technique. But the rest just hits us out of the blue. I understand what the authors were getting at here and what effect they wanted to achieve, but it wasn't delivered as well as it could have been.
All that said, the underlying is completely believable. A mother doing the impossible to save her child is a story as old as time, far too underrated and far too rarely explored in Hollywood. Could this film have been done better? Yes. Do I want to see more such stories, after watching it? Yes, absolutely.
I think the chief qualm of reviews with this piece is just that - how can a woman officially past her prime look this good in such situations? It's not believable. And I think this is why this movie gets lower ratings than it deserves.
There is, however, merit to the claim that the background story isn't developed as well as it could be; there are plot holes here and there; and those fur coats will get any eco-geek screaming. Anybody who has never experienced the wild outdoors in their most primitive, no-indoor-plumbing, no-electricity, and NO INTERNET state, will simply not understand what is necessary to survive them. Hunting and foraging for food when you are off the grid is a necessity, not brutality or abuse of nature. Not eating animal meat as a source of protein when it's -30 C outside is not an "option". You can't go to the store to get tofu-rkey! This movie brings certain unquestionable truths to the surface, and it's uncomfortable.
The daughter's instincts are also not entirely convincingly explained - ok, we can kind of guess who taught her the two-fingered tapping technique. But the rest just hits us out of the blue. I understand what the authors were getting at here and what effect they wanted to achieve, but it wasn't delivered as well as it could have been.
All that said, the underlying is completely believable. A mother doing the impossible to save her child is a story as old as time, far too underrated and far too rarely explored in Hollywood. Could this film have been done better? Yes. Do I want to see more such stories, after watching it? Yes, absolutely.
I expect the 3rd (and final season of The Witcher that I'll ever watch) to be a good one - chiefly so because of Henry Cavill. To have an actor with his resources and his love for the source material WANT to play Geralt is trully a God-send. I've already downloaded the Henry Cavill face extensions for all my Witcher games; in my mind's eye he will always be Geralt. It is absolutely mind-boggling that having him, having the other cast members, the producers made the decision to slaughter the goose that lays golden eggs. I suspect this will top the blunder of Firefly in terms of fans and revenue lost. With all the love I have for Liam - he is simply not Geralt, and no amount of make up, white wigs or leathery body armour can change that. R. I. P., best fantasy ever brought to life. It's been a good run. One day, in a decade or few, perhaps a new hero will rise, loving the original story as Henry does, hopefully having at least a fraction of Henry's looks and dedication to this character, and we'll give it another go. Hopefully I'll live to see that day.